Big Wig Award Winners

The behind-the-scenes people of the advertising and communications industry—printers, photographers, media reps, assistants and others—were honored Thursday night as AAF-Knoxville, the local advertising club, hosted its first annual Big Wig Awards.

AAF-Knoxville asked people within the East Tennessee communications community to submit nominations for the “unsung heroes” of advertising and marketing—professionals who may not be recognized at other awards programs like the ADDY Awards, but whose contributions to the field are invaluable. People tapped more than 100 individuals in 22 categories.

From there, more than 1700 votes were cast to select the honorees. Below are the finalists and winners for each category:

Best Online Rep:

· Gerald Adler- KNS

· Sarah Burton- WATE (Winner)

· Marina Prutskova – South Central Media

Best Printer Rep:

· Wendell Burkhart- Union Printer

· Brent Golden- Hart Graphics (Winner)

· Jerry Price – Union Printer

· Peter Ullrich- Ullrich Printing

Best Outdoor Rep:

· Bob Crossland, Lamar

· Jonathan Graviss, Lamar

· Carolyn Morton- Lamar (Winner)

Best Newspaper Rep:

· Barry Jarrell, Tennessee Press Service

· Marti Townsend- Knoxville News Sentinel (Winner)

· Diane Shannon, Farragut Press

Best Radio Rep:

· Michael Brody- South Central Media

· Cory Dickson- Citadel Broadcasting (Winner)

· Traci McKee- Journal Broadcasting

Best TV Rep:

· Maureen Bosch- WVLT

· Kristy Henderson- WBIR (Winner)

· Michael Hodges - WBIR

· Steve Parket – WATE

· Lynn Perella - WBIR

· Betsy Wood- WVLT

Best Exhibit Production:

· Hart Graphics (Winner)

· Skylines

· Print Edge

Best Large Format Printer:

· Hart Graphics

· PostNet

· Print Edge (Winner)

Best Printer:

· Hart Graphics (Winner)

· High Resolution

· Russell Printing Options

· Ullrich Printing

· Union Printers

Best Sign Company:

· Fast Signs (Winner)

· High Resolutions

· Signs-N-Such

Best Fulfillment /Direct Mail Category:

· Direct Mail Services (Winner)

· National Mailroom

Best Talent Agency:

· 18Karat

· Talent Trek (Winner)

· Gage Model and Talent

Best Photographer:

· Charlie Brooks (Winner)

· Dudenbostel Photography

· Andrew Gresham- Asen Advertising

· David Luttrell- Astral Atelier Photography

· Jack Parker

Best Video Film Post Production:

· Elastic Pictures

· HP Video

· KARMA (Winner)

· Radiant Media

· Red Arrow Industries

· Sam Moore. WBIR

Best Sound Person:

· AMG Media

· Sam Moore- WBIR (Winner)

· Chris Robbins- Ursa Major

Best Media Buyer:

· Cindy Mincer – Mincer Media Management

· Amanda Osborn- Media Directions Advertising

· Nina Brown Reineri – Ascertainment Marketing, Inc.

· Cynthia Wells- Tombras (Winner)

· Nancy Turner Wilson - Wilson Group Advertising

Best Traffic/Production:

· Barry Bostedor, Scripps

· Jessica Brown, Rivr Media

· Valerie Lamb- Tombras (Winner)

Best Retouch Artist:

· Brian McWilliams

· Mark Perriguey, Asen Advertising

· Kiera Tippitt, 5 Monkeys Design (Winner)

Best Illustrator:

· Cindy Day

· Andrea Truan (Winner-tie)

· Danny Wilson (Winner-tie)

Best Web Programmer:

· Pablo Alejo, Tombras

· Darryl Ballard, Intensity

· Paul Gibson-VIEO (Winner)

· Michael Pryfogle, Designsensory

· Lee Tankersly, Active Dimension

Best Assistant:

· Hollie Bivens- Hart Graphics (Winner)

· Ellen Brewer- Tombras

· Sheri Dobson- WBIR

Best Up & Comer:

· Drew Dill- Shelton Group (Winner)

· Rachel Kennedy- Tombras

· Sarah Malak – Ackerman PR

Most Like to be My Boss in 10 Years:

· Josh Loebner- Design Sensory

· Meredith Priest- Shelton Group

· Dooley Tombras- Tombras (Winner)

AAF-Knoxville congratulates all the finalists and winners. To learn more, visit www.aafknoxville.com.